Active duty and reserve members of the armed forces often rely on online courses to pursue their educational goals. With the possibility of deployment present as a daily reality, online degree programs can enable military students to work towards their bachelor’s degree or master’s degree without worrying about deployment interrupting their educational program.
Saint Leo University has long been one of the nation’s leading providers of higher education opportunities to military service members, and will reinforce that commitment with the new enrollments expected because of the new GI Bill. The legislation was passed by Congress last year to improve the educational assistance the country provides to veterans and service members. The bill improves the allowance for tuition and provides a book stipend in addition to providing a housing allowance for many recipients. The tuition benefits can also be applied to online courses. In some cases, service members may be able to transfer tuition benefits to a family member.
Saint Leo University’s administrators are eager to assist veterans ready to enroll in college when the new Post-9/11 GI Bill comes into effect August 1.
Since the VA opened up application for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, news on the financial aid plan being offered to veterans has been on the uprise. After the break, read about 4 highlights that have been brought up furing the first week of May.
- Transferability to Dependents
- Housing Stipends for Distance Learners
- Post 9/11 GI Bill vs Montgomery GI Bill
- GI Bill Eligibility and Tuition Rates
President Barack Obama
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: You know, there are few things as fundamental to the American dream or as essential for America’s success as a good education. This has never been more true than it is today. At a time when our children are competing with kids in China and India, the best job qualification you can have is a college degree or advanced training. If you do have that kind of education, then you’re well prepared for the future because half of the fastest-growing jobs in America require a bachelor’s degree or more. And if you don’t have a college degree, you’re more than twice as likely to be unemployed as somebody who does. So the stakes could not be higher for young people.
Air Force Students
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, or the “Yellow Ribbon Program,” is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 meant to assist with tuition costs that exceed the in-state college tuition normally provided. This provision allows colleges to enter an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to help fund any cost that exceeds the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. This is especially important for private colleges that might be charging more per semester than a student’s local college campus. Colleges may contribute up to fifty percent of the additional expenses that exceed the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s benefits and the VA will match the same amount, dollar-for-dollar.
